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A Short History The founder of the Village of Crysler was a New Yorker by birth, a German by ancestry and a United Empire Loyalist by allegiance. Colonel John Crylser's family came from the Palatine area of Germany. Being Lutherans, they were expelled from their homeland by the armies of Louis XIV on religious grounds. By late1709, thousands had made their way to Britain and were sheltered in the Blackheath warehouses. In 1710, 10 ships left Britain for New York. The Crysler family finally made their way to Schoharie where Jeronmius Crysler received 12,000 acres of the promised Indian land, and later bought a number of other tracts which his eldest son, Adam inherited. In 1739, a fourth child, Philip, was born. When he was 25, he purchased 50 acres and built a blacksmith shop and a potash works, In 1770 Philip fathered John, the fifth of eight children. (later to be known as Colonel John Crysler). Once again these families were plunged into war. Sides had to be taken. Those that were loyal to Britain were Tories or Loyalist, those who wanted American Independance were rebels or Patriots. Adam and Philip were two of the Tory Crysler brothers who were well known for the fierceness of their fighting. The revenge sought by "the Cryslers' Raids" were the terror of those who had mistreated the Loyalists. The Tory Cryslers and six other brothers and cousins joined Butler's Rangers and were part of the force that left a scene of total destructionin the Susquehanna River valley. At the tender age of 10 years, John became a drummer boy. After the battles they made their way to Montreal and then to Johnstown, now Cornwall. John was 16. Land was granted on the basis of rank plus land for a spouse and each child. A man of many talents, he owned stores, grist mills and lumber mills and amassed large tract s of land. At the top of his career, he owned 60,000 acres. Dundas County had a great deal of valuable timber. He was a farmer, a merchant, a magistrate, a school Trustee, a colonel in the militia, and a representitive of his country to Parliment. During his life time, Colonel John had 3 wives, all from prominent families, and 20 children. On November 11, 1813, the decisive Battle of Crysler's Farm was waged, pitting some 800 Canadians against four times as many Americans. By the end of the day the Americans, beaten on the ploughed fields, had retreated and the battle was won. In 1838, John Crysler, aged 70, and his son John Pliny brought 300 men of Dundas militia to the Battle of the Windmill at Prescott, where the Americans once again invaded Canada. This time as "liberators". They were captured, the leaders were hung and the men were sent to Australian penal camp. For John, this was the culmination of a military life that had started at the age of ten. The area was divided into 9 "Royal Townships", comprising the Counties of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, Grevill and parts of Leeds. the Townships were divided into Concessions and laid out into 200 acres lots. In 1789, it was proposed that as a "Marke of Honour", the appellation, United Empire Loyalist (UEL), be given to families that had been loyal to the Crown and their descendants are distinguished by UE being added to their names. In the late 1830's Colonel John moved north to the village of Crysler nestled on the banks of the South Nation River. The lavish hospitality given to all visitors to his nearby home was well known, and before the end of his life, along with failed business speculations, had taken their toll on his fortunes. In 1852, he died at Crysler Village and was buried in the St. John's Anglican Cemetery on land he donated for the establishment of the church. The coordinates of his resting place is N45 13.264 W075 09.096.
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